Unfortunately, Jiayin was afraid they would get an upset stomach, so she refused to add any more. She only took out a card and said, "This stuff is too cold. You can't eat too much at once."

"Let's play cards. The winner can send someone to pick up a box of ice cream tomorrow, how about it?"

"Okay, hurry up, I want to win ice cream!" Gu Qingqing was the first to respond loudly when she heard that they were going to play cards.

She's getting married not long after the New Year, and she's eager to seize every precious moment to have fun and be carefree.

The other girls agreed, but the third princess, who had never played before, was a little worried.

Soon the cards were laid out, and the girls rolled up their sleeves and began playing.

Jiayin helped the Third Princess draw a few turtles, and they all successfully escaped.

Seeing that her opponents all had long strips of paper, about two fingers wide, stuck to their faces, the Third Princess was overjoyed. She went off to fight independently with great enthusiasm, looking like she was going to stick strips of paper all over everyone's faces.

Seeing this, Jiayin went out for a walk.

After Mrs. Liu and the others next door had finished eating and drinking, they were about to go shopping together when they saw Jiayin coming over, so they said goodbye.

Jiayin escorted them to the stairwell, then quietly glanced at the lobby, went to the kitchen at the back, and finally returned to the private room.

As a result, she almost burst out laughing when she opened the door.

Only the three princess's eyes were visible; the rest of her face was covered with notes!

The girls, who had been holding back and feeling a bit apprehensive, burst into laughter when they saw Jiayin's reaction.

The third princess threw down her playing cards in a huff, stroked the "paper mustache" on her face, and laughed so hard she almost fell over...

By the time the girls' get-together ended, the sun was already setting.

Perhaps because they thought about being locked up in the back house again when they got home, everyone was reluctant to leave and looked dejected.

Jiayin sympathized with them, but there was nothing she could do.

These are the typical types of women.

Like her, those who can freely go out and move around, and even open shops to do business, are probably few and far between in the entire Tianwu.

It must be said, she was lucky.

She's willing to share some of this good fortune with her friends, saying, "Don't be sad about it, I'll find another opportunity to invite you guys out to play later."

"Also, remember to send your maids to collect the ice cream tomorrow, everyone gets one!"

"Oh, Princess, you're so kind! I've been waiting for you to say that!" Gu Qingqing gave Jiayin a big hug.

Xu Xi, Mei Lan, and the others also beamed with joy, and following Gu Qingqing's example, they took turns hugging Jiayin.

After seeing them off, the Third Princess awkwardly said to Jiayin, "I was being stubborn earlier."

"My mother's situation... is not your fault. She was misled by the Wu family."

It's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. Jia Yin isn't exactly a honey badger; she doesn't dislike everyone and always wants to fight.

Moreover, this is the Third Princess, the Emperor's daughter. It would be best if they could get along peacefully!

She smiled and said, "The past is the past, Princess, you don't need to think about it. Does your royal uncle know you're here today?"

"I know, I only came out with my father's permission."

The Third Princess glanced at the fruit and vegetable stall next door, and Jiayin immediately understood, saying, "The fruit is very fresh today, why don't you take some back for the Emperor?"

"Great! Father loves peaches, I want to take a few more!" The Third Princess readily agreed.

After saying that, she quickly added, afraid that Jiayin would feel bad, "The treasure bowl I gave you is made of pure gold, enough to buy your shop."

"You're not allowed to feel bad about taking a few peaches from me!"

Jiayin rolled her eyes at her without any politeness, "Do you think I'm like you, you stingy person!"

"I still have to entertain my guests, so please help yourself."

After saying that, she called over the shop assistant at the entrance of the fruit and vegetable shop, gave him a few instructions, and then ignored the Third Princess.

The third princess really didn't stand on ceremony; in the end, she carried two full baskets of fruit back to the palace.

In the imperial study, the emperor was drinking tea after finishing his official duties. Seeing that the third princess had not yet returned, he was also a little worried.

He wasn't afraid of anything else, but he was afraid that the Third Princess and Jiayin would fight again, and it would be difficult to deal with if either of them got hurt!

Before he could even instruct Steward Yi to greet her at the door, the Third Princess returned excitedly.

As soon as she entered, she said, "Father, I robbed Jiayin of two baskets of fruit!"

The emperor couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, and beckoned his daughter to sit down and asked her a few questions.

The third princess talked about how delicious the hot pot was, how she got her face covered in notes while playing cards, and how she specifically picked the most expensive fruits and put them in her basket, making the fruit and vegetable shop owner's face turn pale with heartache.

When she talked about something she was happy about, she laughed so hard she almost danced with joy, her face beaming with delight.

The Emperor listened with a smile, feeling immensely gratified.

All children are the best in their own family.

My daughter used to do stupid things, it must have been because she was instigated by the maids around her, or because she was corrupted by the Empress.

Now that the child has become more perceptive and is playing with Jiayin, everything has changed dramatically.

It seems I'll have to let my daughter leave the palace more often, or summon Jiayin to the palace to play more often...

The Third Princess, having spoken her mind freely, left a basket of fruit for her father and then took another basket to Kunning Palace.

She didn't expect her mother to be happy; she just wanted to do her part as a filial daughter.

The Empress was imprisoned for many days, and the news she heard became more and more tragic with each passing day.

My grandfather passed away, my parents were imprisoned, and my younger brother was murdered...

She hated the emperor for not cherishing their marital bond, and she hated the Li family even more for ruining her family and cutting off the Wu family's lineage!

Now that her daughter has finally come to visit, she's brought fruit from the Li family—how could she not explode?!

She smashed the tea set and flower vase on the table to pieces, and finally pointed at the Third Princess and cursed, "You heartless beast! The Li family forced my great-grandfather to his death and killed your uncle!"

"You're still hanging out with that wretched girl from the Li family? Do you even have a heart?!"

"If I had known you were so heartless, I should have strangled you the moment I gave birth to you!"

Seeing the fruit scattered all over the ground and the shattered porcelain shards, the Third Princess felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, chilling her to the bone...

There are no secrets in the palace. Almost as soon as the Third Princess left Kunning Palace with red eyes, everyone knew that the Empress had taken her anger out on the Third Princess again.

While onlookers simply watched the spectacle, the Emperor was unusually furious and sent someone to severely reprimand the Empress.

Not only was the Empress confined to her quarters, but she was also punished by copying scriptures to purify her mind and cultivate her inner peace!

The Empress was naturally even more aggrieved, and her shouting and cursing added a bit of liveliness to the stagnant palace walls!

There weren't many lanterns lit in Shou Kang Palace, and most of the buildings were dark, giving off a sense of loneliness.

Inside the main hall, the Empress Dowager sat on a soft couch, leaning against a plush, gold-embroidered pillow, listening to the nanny's vivid account of the Empress's madness while smiling as she sipped her bird's nest porridge.

"Hmph, I had good taste back then, choosing such a good empress."

"Knowing that I am boring, I will quickly make a joke to amuse me."

She scooped up some clear porridge from the bowl with her spoon, then her expression changed. She asked, "Why isn't it bird's nest soup today?"

The old nanny had served her master's meals for half her life and could tell that he was unhappy.

So, with her head slightly lowered, she cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, very little blood bird's nest has been delivered from the south this month, and almost everything in the palace has been replaced with ordinary bird's nest..."